Over the weeks that followed, the real estate and construction labour market faced a challenge unlike any other. When the first lockdown swept across Britain, professional recruitment fell dramatically. The second quarter’s hiring levels were 7.6% of the overall 2020 total in England and Wales (E&W).
Vacancies across real estate and construction began the year positively, with January 2020 posting 11.2% more jobs year-on-year. That optimism, however, subsided quickly with the emergence of covid-19. Summer’s easing of lockdown coincided with July’s announcement of a stamp duty cut and a £3bn grant to make houses greener. The sector responded by ramping up vacancies that month to 2,713, up 93% compared to June.
